Shear diaphragm ventilation product and method of making same

ABSTRACT

A roof vent which may be mounted transversely across any roof ridge and or roof hip regardless of its contours or roof angles. A roof vent which may comprise of a combination pre-formed vent and shear resistant roof element, which may provide both ventilation from the interior of an attic space and provide a shear resistance value to the roof diaphragm. A roof vent element which may provide both attic ventilation and a shear value to the roof diaphragm. A roof vent element to provide openings to allow for the passage of air flow from the attic cavity to the outside atmosphere, a pre-formed one piece product made from a variety of metals and or plastics based upon installation requirements, said improved product made to be a strap which can be made to contour to either truss framing designs and or conventional roof framing designs. In one embodiment the roof vent and shear element is installed as a part of the roof wood sheathing diaphragm and then may have any number of roof ridge vent products on the market installed over it as with asphalt composition shingle systems. In another embodiment the roof vent and shear element is installed as part of the roof wood sheathing diaphragm and then may have any number of roof ridge vent products on the market installed over it as with concrete and or clay tile roofing systems, said concrete and or clay tile roofing systems which may or may not be supported by wooden and or metal batten systems and or any number of systems relating to concrete and or clay tile roofing systems. This exemplary roof vent addresses the need for providing a continuous ridge ventilation system while at the same time providing roof diaphragm nailing requirements as required by building codes. An improved product which may be made from pre-formed metal composites and or plastics based upon weather, geographic, seismic, building code requirements and or other conditions which may prevail. An improved product which can be pre-formed to match the contour of both conventional and truss framed roof structures. A roof shear vent which may comprise a pre-formed metal strap which is installed to the roof framing members along the hip and or ridge of a roof. A roof shear vent which may comprise a pre-formed plastic strap which is installed to the roof framing members along the hip and or ridge of a roof. A roof shear vent which may comprise holes, slots, or breaks to allow for air flow through the vent.  
     This exemplary roof shear vent which may comprise of a contour which allows the proposed invention to settle down into a slot cut in the wood sheathing along the hip and or ridge of a roof and against the roof framing members to which it is attached. Said roof shear vent which may comprise a shape which may return vertically and then horizontally back on top of the wood sheathing and to which it may be fastened, said vent which may comprise a flange which runs parallel to the wood sheathing and which covers the wood sheathing, said roof vent element with said flange which may cover a roof underlayment material of different compositions or roof overlayment material of different compositions and which may provide a termination point for said underlayment or overlayments, said roof vent which may comprise a roof shear vent which may meet the requirements for roof diaphragm nailing along the hip and or ridge of a roof, a said roof vent element which may become a component of the wood roof shear diaphragm system. A roof shear vent which may comprise ventilation holes, slots and or breaks in which said openings may vary in size and spacing as needed to allow for different ventilation requirements, said vent in which the angle of the vent apex may vary depending on application.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of provisional application Serial No. 60/179,109 filed Jan. 31, 2000 for Shear Diaphragm Ventilation Product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a ventilation device for a roofing structure, and specifically to a ventilation device that also provides shear resistance to the roof diaphragm.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0003] Roofing structures are required to provide for ventilation, which is to allow for air movement from within the roof structure cavity to ventilate out through the roof structure so a to provide proper ventilation, to reduce the accumulation of heat and or moisture, which maybe damaging to the roof structure, insulation, and or mechanical equipment within the attic cavity. The reduction in temperature beneath the exterior roof covering has also been shown to extend the life of the roof covering and or the components within the exterior roof covering.

[0004] The reduction in attic temperature is well known to reduce the energy consumption of the building, as air conditioning represents the largest consumption of electricity in summer months and heating as the main consumption of energy in the winter. And so reduction in attic temperature has become a main goal of State and Federal Government energy policies for summer months, while reducing heat loss in winter.

[0005] There are any number of ventilation products on the market which provide attic ventilation. These consist of power driven and passive ventilation products. All exterior roof mounted ventilation products require the roof decking, which may consist of wooden sheathing boards, plywood, oriented strand board, and or other decking material to be cut open in some way so as to allow for air movement from the interior attic space, through the decking, sheathing boards, plywood, and or oriented strand board, and out through the exterior roofing material system. The most effective of these ventilation products is the continuous hip and or ridge mounted ridge ventilation system, which is affixed to the and over the primary roofing material.

[0006] To install the continuous ridge ventilation system, the sheathing, decking, plywood, and or oriented strand board must first be cut back along either side of the center line of the hip and or ridge board, so as to provide an opening through which air can flow. This opening slot may be of varying dimension as specified by the product manufacturer. The roofing material system is then installed up to and cut clean with this opening slot. The continuous ridge vent product is then installed over this open slot, and down over the roofing material system. The ridge vent product is constructed so as to allow for air flow up through the product, but so as not to allow wind driven rain, snow and or dust to blow back into the attic cavity. The amount of air flow may vary depending upon the design of the ridge vent product.

[0007] The issue that the aforementioned continuous ridge vent products do not address is the damage to the roof diaphragm that is caused by the removal of the roof decking, sheathing, plywood, and or oriented strand board, to allow for ventilation. The connection of the roof sheathing, consisting of varying materials to the roof rafters and the ridge beam of the roof structure is considered an important structural component of the roof shear diaphragm. Most national building codes require the roof sheathing and in particular plywood and or oriented strand board to be fastened to the roof framing as per engineering specifications set for by the American Plywood Association.

[0008] By meeting these installation specifications building engineers can design roof and building structures that will meet certain building industry requirements for wind and seismic loads depending upon the local building department requirements. The existing manufacturers of continuous hip and ridge ventilation products, currently on the market do not provide for a solution to address this roof shear diaphragm issue, as is required by the code bodies who have approved their ventilation products. This current situation puts the installer/contractor in the position of having to rectify the roof shear diaphragm issue and or any potential liabilities for continuous ridge vent products that are installed without addressing the roof shear diaphragm. The only current remedy involves installing new framing components as may be required by the local building official.

[0009] There is clearly a need for a product that addresses both the need for ventilation, in this case a continuous hip and or ridge mounted ventilation product, while providing for the engineering requirements of the roof shear diaphragm. Moreover, there is a need for a ventilation product which addresses the roof shear diaphragm and is adaptable to a variety of pitched roofing material systems. Whether the roofing system be asphalt composition shingles, concrete or clay roof tiles, real or simulated slate, metal, and or any number of pitched roofing material systems.

[0010] This continuous shear diaphragm ventilation product of the current invention can be made from metal and or plastic depending upon the specific engineering requirements.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] It is a primary object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings associated with the current continuous hip and or ridge mounted ventilation products currently available on the market.

[0012] The present invention provides a continuous hip and or ridge ventilation product which provides for the roof shear diaphragm engineering requirements that are required by national building code enforcement bodies such as ICBO, SBCCI, and BOCA as well as engineering specifications that have been established by the American Plywood Association for the installation of plywood and or oriented strand board.

[0013] These American Plywood Association engineering specification are used by architects, designers and code enforcement officials across the nation to provide for structures that will meet existing code requirements for wind, seismic loads, and roofing material resistance loads as may be needed depending upon the local conditions.

[0014] These as well as additional advantages of the present invention are achieved by providing a metal and or plastic pre-formed product which will conform to the contour of both conventional and truss framed roof structures. The pre-formed metal and or plastic plate is installed to the roof framing members along the hip and or ridge of a roof. The pre-formed metal and or plastic plate contains ventilation holes which can be of a particular design size and pattern to allow for the most ventilation while maintaining the greatest structural integrity of the plate.

[0015] The metal and or plastic material is of a thickness that will allow for the product to contour to the different pitches of roofs, but will still provide the benefits hereto mentioned.

[0016] This continuous hip and or ridge mounted ventilation plate is let into the roof opening slots in the roof sheathing or plywood that have been removed to allow for air flow out of the attic cavity. This letting into the roof sheathing is normally accomplished by cutting the wood sheathing along both side of a hip and or ridge beam with a power saw, then removing the sheathing material. The shear diaphragm ventilation product of the current invention is then installed in place of the sheathing that has been removed. This continuous ridge ventilation and roof shear device is fastened to the roof framing members, consisting of the roof rafters and the hip and or ridge beam. The present invention connects to the rafters on either side of the hip and or ridge beam of the roof, as well as the hip and or ridge beam itself. Continuous flanges that run length wise along both sides of the shear ventilation device as a part of the current invention, rest upon the top of the plywood sheathing or roof decking. Connection to the roof structures is made by the use of nails, screws, and or other fasteners as may be needed.

[0017] The present invention may also provide for the attachment of the wooden and or metal hip and or ridge tile nailer, used to fasten the hip and ridge tiles to the tile roof system. This attachment is made by use of a metal clip which attaches through the top of the metal and or plastic ventilation plate and into the roof hip and or ridge beam, using nails, screws, and or other types of fasteners as may be needed. This metal clip also elevates the hip and or ridge nailer to a desired height as may be needed to properly attach the hip and or ridge tiles.

[0018] The advantages associated with the shear diaphragm ventilation product of the present invention are achievable when used in conjunction with different types of pitched roof support structures, roofing overlayments, roofing material systems and or continuous hip and or ridge mounted ventilation products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which the reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective top sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the shear diaphragm ventilation product of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the shear diaphragm ventilation product of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment being installed on an exemplary roof structure in accordance with the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 4 is a dimensional view of the preferred embodiment of the shear diaphragm ventilation product of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 5 is another exemplary configuration of the shear diaphragm ventilation product of the present invention which can be used on another exemplary type of roof structure in accordance with the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the shear vent diaphragm ventilation Product of the present invention of FIG. 3 in a later stage of the installation process;

[0026]FIG. 7 is a cutaway, perspective view of the shear diaphragm ventilation product of the present invention being installed on an exemplary type of roof structure in accordance with the present invention; and

[0027]FIG. 6 is a cutaway, perspective view of the shear vent diaphragm ventilation product of the present invention being installed on another exemplary type of roof structure application in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a shear diaphragm ventilation product which provides for ventilation while meeting the requirements of the roof shear diaphragm.

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective top-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the shear diaphragm ventilation product of the present invention is illustrated. The shear ventilation product 10 consists of a continuous metal and or plastic plate, which are formed by pre-forming the plate along consistent longitudinal lines, so as to create a pre-formed plate that is universally useful with the most varied roof decking thickness and roof pitches.

[0030] The ventilation plate 10 includes two continuous parallel ventilation strips 25 which may or may not be separated by a continuous solid area of the ventilation strip 27, which may be attached to the hip and or ridge board 13 by use of a variety of fasteners, and when attached will be horizontal to the top surface of the hip and or ridge board 13.

[0031] The two continuous solid areas 29 are formed 90 degrees to 25 and to the two continuous flanges 31. Both 25 and 31 follow the same angle or pitch of the roof to which the ventilation strip is attached. FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the shear ventilation plate 10 of FIG. 1, showing ventilation strip 25 and flange 31.

[0032]FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary cross sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the shear ventilation plate 10, in an installed application upon a roof structure. The ventilation plate 10 is installed with sections 25 against the roof rafters 11 and section 27 against the hip and or ridge board 13. The roof sheathing and or decking is cut back in parallel with the hip and or ridge board 13 to allow for a slot or opening for air to move from the attic cavity and exhaust out to the exterior atmosphere 18, through the two continuous parallel ventilation strips 25. The shear diaphragm ventilation product 10 is pre formed at a 90 degree angle along two continuous solid areas 29 which may or may not rest against the plywood sheathing 15. The continuous flanges 31 preferably cover the top surface of the roof decking 15 and the roof underlayment 19. The shear diaphragm ventilation product 10 of the current invention is fastened to the roof structure in a preferred embodiment through the continuous flanges 31, through the plywood sheathing 15 and into the roof rafters 11, and through section 27 into the top of a hip and or ridge board 13 by use of nails or screws as may be needed. In addition the flanges 31 may be screwed or nailed to the plywood sheathing or roof decking along the length wise edges of flanges 31 that run between roof rafters 11. The shear diaphragm ventilation product 10 of the present invention can be roll formed in a preferred embodiment using standard light gage steel which may be treated for corrosion resistance by galvanizing or other means, or made from stainless steel, aluminum, or copper. The gage or thickness of the ventilation plate 10 and fastening detail will be determined by building design requirements. The length of the present invention will be determined by ease of cartage, trucking and or handling, but the invention can be manufactured to different lengths.

[0033] This present invention may also be constructed through an extrusion formed process and or injection molded as is well know to those in the plastics industry to meet building design requirements for a shear diaphragm ventilation product 10 of the current invention.

[0034]FIG. 4 illustrates a dimensional view of the preferred embodiment of the current invention 10 as well views of the aforementioned FIG. 1, and FIG. 2. Also shown is note#1 of 10 which refers to the hole size and spacing of ventilation strips 25. 5 is another cross view of 10 which illustrates note# 2 which references the angle between 27 and 25 which may vary depending upon the roof pitch. FIG. 5 is another exemplary configuration of the shear diaphragm ventilation product of the present invention which can be used on another exemplary type of roof structure in accordance with the present invention. In this preferred embodiment 9 of the shear diaphragm ventilation product 10, section 27 of FIG. 1 has been eliminated so as to allow the current invention to be installed on roof structures that have this type of contour at their apex. Fastening requirements are the same as shown installed in FIG. 3 with the exception of section 27. Also shown is a side view and top view which are the same as FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 with the exception of 27. Also shown is note# 1 of 9 which refers to the hole size and spacing of ventilation strips 25. 4 is another cross view of 9 which illustrates note# 2 which references the angle between the two ventilation strips 25 which may vary depending upon the roof pitch.

[0035]FIG. 6 illustrates a cutaway perspective view of the current invention installed upon a roof structure. In this preferred embodiment of the shear ventilation plate 10 any number of asphalt shingle, wood shake or wood shingle; real or man made, slate; real or man made, metal roofing, and or any other pitched roof system may incorporate the current invention. Also any number of currently manufactured continuous hip or ridge mounted roof ventilation products used in the aforementioned roof systems may be easily installed over the shear ventilation plate 10 of FIG. 5 or FIG. 4 shear vent plate 9 by those familiar to standard roofing applications. The ventilation strip areas 25 can be increased or decreased as needed to accommodate local building code requirements for ventilation. In a preferred embodiment the hole sizes, slots or other opening configurations of 25 are designed to provide the maximum ventilation per square inch while maintaining the highest roof shear diaphragm value of the ventilation plate 10 to the roof structure.

[0036] The shear diaphragm ventilation product 10 and as shown in FIG. 5. shear vent plate 9 of the current invention replaces a portion of the plywood sheathing 15 located immediately next to the roof hip and or ridge board 13. Since the plywood sheathing serves as a structural element transferring the roof shear loads induced by seismic and wind load activities to the building shear walls, the said metal and or plastic ventilation plate 10 and or of FIG. 5 is of comparable strength to provide structural integrity for the roof structure. A preferred ventilation opening is a round hole with a preferred 60 degree hole pattern configuration. Although other opening sizes and configurations may be used in the current invention. FIG. 6 is a cutaway perspective view of the shear diaphragm ventilation product 10 of the present invention being installed on another exemplary type of roof structure application in accordance with the present invention. In this preferred embodiment any number of concrete and or clay roof tile systems can incorporate the current invention.

[0037] Shown in FIG. 6 is a hip or ridge tile nailer board clip 51 which is used to fasten the hip or ridge tile nailer 55 as well as to adjust the nailer 55 to the preferred height depending upon the style of tile being used. The nailer board clip 51 also allows the installer to use a smaller dimensioned wood and or steel hip or ridge tile nailer 55 than is currently used because the nailer no longer has to rest upon the roof structure but instead is affixed to the nailer board clip 51. The nailer board clip 51 is fastened to the hip and or ridge board 13 through the top solid area 27 of the ventilation strip 10 with screws and or nails. The advantage of the tile nailer board clip 51 when installed upon the shear ventilation plate 10 is a secure mechanical attachment for the ridge tile nailer 55. A current method for attachment of the ridge tile nailer board is to toe nail through the nailer board into the plywood sheathing of the roof deck. This method does not provide for a sound attachment. And this type of attachment can fail from wind or seismic loads. As can be seen in the foregoing, the goal of the current invention is to provide a shear diaphragm ventilation product, which the inventor believes is novel, which will be adaptable to any kind of pitched roof application. The current invention is both a structural element of the roof structure and roof shear diaphragm while providing roof ventilation and other benefits as already mentioned at the same time. The inventor is not aware of any product that provides the benefits of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A ridge and hip vent for use on sloped roofs which runs transversely across the hip and ridge of a roof regardless of its contours or roof angles, said vent to also provide shear resistance in the roof diaphragm system as a component of the wood sheathing which is attached to the roof framing members, said vent element to provide openings to allow for the passage of air flow from the attic cavity to the outside atmosphere, a pre-formed one piece product made from a variety of metals and or plastics based upon installation requirements, said improved product made to be as a strap which can be made to contour to either truss framing designs and or conventional roof framing designs.
 2. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent comprises a pre-formed metal strap which is installed to the roof framing members along the hip and or ridge of a roof.
 3. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent comprises a pre-formed plastic strap which is installed to the roof framing members along the hip and or ridge of a roof.
 4. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent comprises holes, slots, or breaks to allow for air flow through the vent.
 5. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent comprises a contour which allows the proposed invention to settle down into a slot cut in the wood sheathing along the hip and or ridge of a roof and against the roof framing members to which it is attached.
 6. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent comprises a shape which fits against the roof framing of claim 5 and wherein said vent comprises a shape which returns vertically and then horizontally back on top of the wood sheathing and to which it may be fastened.
 7. The roof shear vent of claim 1 and 5 wherein said vent has a flange which runs parallel to the wood sheathing and which covers the wood sheathing.
 8. The roof shear vent of claim 1 and 7 wherein said vent flange covers the roof underlayment or roofing felt and provides a termination point for said underlayment or roofing felt.
 9. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent may have any number of roof ridge vent products on the market installed over it as with asphalt composition shingle systems.
 10. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent may have any number of roof ridge vent products on the market installed over it as with concrete and or clay tile roofing systems, said concrete and or clay tile roofing systems which may or may not be supported by wooden and or metal batten systems and or any number of systems relating to concrete and or clay tile roofing systems.
 11. The roof shear vent of claim 1 wherein said vent meets the requirements for roof diaphragm nailing along the hip and ridge of a roof.
 12. The roof shear vent of claim 1 and 10 wherein said vent becomes a component of the wood roof shear diaphragm system. 